For the most part it was pretty much unwatchable, seeing as it contained what could arguably be the worst officiating I have seen in recent memory. It was truly unreal. I can’t even really even begin to describe it.
The Celtics shot 28 more free throws than the Lakers.
To give them credit, Boston did play very good defense, but give me a break. No way in Hell did the Lakers only get fouled on three shot attempts*. And then there’s all those ticky-tack fouls that were called on the Lakers. It’s one thing if as a referee you are going call ticky-tacks, but you know, you might want to call them on both teams.
As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t much to analyze. The refs gave it to them. I’m definitely not a big fan of blaming losses on the refs (I’m really not) but this was just too ridiculous. I’ve never been this disgusted after watching an NBA game**.
In spite of all that though, Kobe never quit and didn’t let his team quit either. He almost led the Lakers to the greatest comeback in Playoff history and I think that just makes what the refs did that much more reprehensible.
Continue reading ‘TLN’s Finals Report: Lakers vs. Celtics [Game 2]‘
The game started with the Lakers coming out real strong on all aspects of the game. They were making buckets, playing excellent defense, and making all the hustle plays that they were generally not really making throughout the playoffs. I mean, the Lakers had something like 14 second chance points in the first quarter! I think that was probably double what we had in the entire postseason.
Somewhere around the 3 or 4 minute mark we were up by 14 and I felt pretty confident we’d take this game because I didn’t think the Spurs’ moldy oldies could make up a big deficit.
It looks like I counted the Spurs out a little early however. After their poor play in the first-half of the first quarter, they played the Lakers to a virtual standstill for most of the remaining 40 or so minutes since their 14 point deficit. They never were able to take the lead, but they tied it on many occasions and the Lakers never led (if memory serves me correctly) by double digits again.
The Lakers finally pulled away at the end of the fourth quarter and were up seven with a little under a minute left.
Or did they?
Continue reading ‘TLN’s Playoff Report: Lakers vs. Spurs [Game 4]‘
I have this theory that in order to be a Championship contending team you have to have a set style and be able to really enforce it on other teams. For example, the Spurs play a slowed down defensive half-court style and no matter who they play, they are going to play that style.
The pre-Shaq Suns were the same way. The advantages to this are pretty obvious: If the Spurs are playing a team and they are both playing Spurs style basketball then the obvious advantage will be with the Spurs. That was one of the big reasons why I felt the Lakers weren’t at that elite level more than anything else because they really don’t have a set style that they enforce on their opponents. If their opponent are bad, they tend to play bad. If they play fast, they play fast. If they play slow, etc. etc. This pretty much carried over into the playoffs.
I think the most amazing thing about this victory was not that we blew them out, but that we blew them out at their own game. We didn’t beat them by thirty points by speeding up the tempo and outgunning them or anything like that. We beat them by thirty by holding them to 71 points. If anything else we slowed the game down (at least defensively.)
Continue reading ‘TLN’s Playoff Report: Lakers vs. Spurs [Game 2]‘
After about the first quarter I knew this game was over. We were up by thirteen and it was a dominant +13. We shut them down on defense and on offense we got basically whatever we wanted. The craziest thing was that it didn’t even look like we were really going all out. It was like all we were doing was executing and playing how we should and that was enough to pick apart this Utah Jazz team.
By the end of the third quarter, I was thinking about getting a head start on this post-game and wax poetic about how this is a new Lakers team. This is the team of the future. Hornets? Spurs? Who cares! Lakers, baby!
Then the fourth quarter came and snapped me back to reality. This is not a new Lakers team. This is the same ass Lakers team that we’ve been following all season. The Laker team that can blow out the best teams the NBA has to offer and then lose the Grizzlies and Bobcats. This is still our Lakers…
And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. They may be flawed, but it’s never a dull moment with our Lakers. 12 minutes left and up by 16? Mmmmm, that’s pretty good, but how about up by 3 with 19 seconds. Yeah that sounds better. That sounds like compelling drama.
Kobe said this is a Hollywood script. It seems to be a very fitting description.
Continue reading ‘TLN’s Playoff Report: Lakers vs. Jazz [Game 6]‘
Wow!
First off, that was a great game. I really envy basketball fans who are more or less neutral towards the Lakers and Jazz because they can really absorb what is easily the most exciting series of the post season so far.
Throughout the game, the commentators were continually mentioning how the winning team in all of the five games thus far has not given up the lead in the last 35 minutes of each game. Add that to the fact that all five games went down to the wire really goes to show you how much both The Jazz and The Lakers want this.
It’s a shame all this exciting postseason action will more than likely end in the Finals. I mean have you seen any of the Cavaliers‘, Celtics‘, or Pistons’ games? I’m not saying they’re bad teams, but dear Lord do they play some ugly, unwatchable basketball. I bet David Stern is really kicking himself for booting the New Orleans Hornets to the Western Conference.
Anyway, this is a post game report so I should probably start talking about the actually game at some point right? Right.
Continue reading ‘TLN’s Playoff Report: Lakers vs. Jazz [Game 5]‘
Well that… sucked.
First off, I have to tip my hat off to the Jazz. They came out the gate with a ton of energy and focus and it never really wavered throughout the game.
After going up by around ten in the second quarter, they never relinquished the lead and had an answer for every Laker run. These guys are definitely not the Nuggets. How unfortunate for us. I like competitive series as much as the next guy but it was fun destroying our opponents.
The Lakers on the other hand, matched their energy and execution only in spurts. Throughout the game the Jazz defense really took the Lakers out of their comfort zone offensively. In a particularly brilliant move, they really worked to make Pau as uncomfortable as possible.
All throughout the first half, they brought early doubles to him as soon as he got the ball which forced a lot of turnovers. With Pau neutralized, their passing grew incredibly stagnant as the Lakers would pretty much just hold the ball or dribble around and take contested shots without really getting into their inside outside inside game.
Continue reading ‘TLN’s Playoff Report: Lakers vs. Jazz [Game 3]‘
The game began with Kobe Bryant receiving the MVP trophy. After he got the award Kobe started playing around with his daughters. Is it just me, or does Kobe play with his family on camera more than any other player in NBA history? I’m not saying anything against it or anything, I just think it’s kind of funny. Not only is Kobe Bryant the number #1 basketball player he’s also the number #1 dad. What a guy!
The game itself was pretty interesting in that the Jazz really came out playing a lot better than they did in Game 1. More interesting than that is the Lakers playing even better. Their execution in the first quarter was probably the best it has been since Game 1 against the Nuggets as they just kept pounding it inside to Gasol. After the first quarter The Lakers went up by fifteen and put it on cruise control the rest of the way.
Continue reading ‘TLN’s Playoff Report: Lakers vs. Jazz [Game 2]‘
Two up and riding high with style!
Many people were very critical of Kobe’s performance in game 1 which I personally felt it was very unfair. He did shoot a low percentage, but that was only in the first half. In the second half he shot almost 50% and scored 28 points. Kobe was probably annoyed with the criticism too because he came out with an absolute VENGENCE tonight.
The first half felt very much like a throwback game from the last two years with Kobe doing everything and the rest of the team moving to brick city. This really worried me. Thankfully that was all for naught as we managed to stave off their best shots and ended the game with a blowout.
I think this game maybe more than any other this year highlights why Kobe Bryant is the true MVP of the league. The basic strategy George Karl had for the game (as near as I can tell anyway) was to allow Kobe to score and just keep everybody else from going crazy. It’s a common tactic that is used against superstar led teams all the time. One of the best ways to beat the Suns or the Hornets is to make Nash or Paul a scorer.
Continue reading ‘TLN’s Playoff Report: Lakers vs. Nuggets [Game 2]‘
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